Our opinion: Sell Horns Hill, build a better park

The idea of selling city park land to a developer sounds almost heinous on the surface. Replace open space with more homes on private wooded lots overlooking the city?

Reality is much different. So different that we endorse studying the idea fully.

Horns Hill Park, atop a wooded hill on the far north side of the city, remains so empty of visitors, our reporters made several trips there looking for people to interview during the recent holiday week. They found nobody. The park's history of illicit sex acts, poor management until recent years and seclusion essentially have made it a waste of city resources for years. No amount of effort seems likely to change this reality.

Although city investments in communications towers and water tanks would need to be protected and maintained, there's a chance some developer interest could be generated.

Even if a deal could not be worked out, we think Newark needs a better central park than the current offerings that mainly are out sight and out of mind.

We envision a much better city park that could be constructed north of Sharon Valley Road and east of King Road, along the T.J. Evans trail up to Baker Boulevard and the Newark Area Soccer Association fields. This expanse of land, currently used for farming, is owned by the Evans Foundation and once was envisioned as the home of a soccer practice facility for the Columbus Crew.

Via the bike path, the land connects to several neighborhoods and the popular green space of the Newark Campus, including the privately built Newark Rotary Accessible Playground and shelter, North Newark Little League, the Newark Ice Arena, two of our new schools and the former Kiwanis baseball fields, which are in need of major rehab work.

One can easily envision a beautiful new park where walking trails, shelter, tennis courts, maybe another smaller playground and other amenities could be added. However, new trees would need time to mature.

It's already safe to say more people walk or ride by this area every day than visit Horns Hill Park.

How feasible would such a project be? Proceeds from Horns Hill would help, not to mention city residents already are paying for the new county park levy. The Evans Foundation has a long history of helping our community accomplish big goals. Grants are likely available.

Perhaps the city even could work in the idea of connecting Evans Boulevard, the road to schools, with King Road and Baker Boulevard to improve the flow of traffic.

Guthrie's bold idea deserves full consideration, especially if there's a solid vision and plan for improving parks for our residents.

Let's spend money on parks people will use.

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Our opinion: Sell Horns Hill, build a better park

The idea of selling city park land to a developer sounds almost heinous on the surface. Replace open space with more homes on private wooded lots overlooking the city?